The announcement was made this week the inaugural staging of the world's richest bowls tournament , set down for next month, was cancelled.

There was a huge amount of interest in the event, which was to award $100,000 in prizemoney, but the ongoing lockdown and little chance of having crowds in attendance was key to this week's decision.

"It was talked about all over the state," a disappointed Club Dubbo bowls manager Anthony Brown said.

"People have told me they've been to other tournaments and this tournament was a real talking point and so was the calibre of player coming.

"That was the main idea, to promote bowls in this area and get spectators here.

"We could have maybe still held it if restrictions ease by then but the main idea is to get people here and watch it. We didn't want 42 teams here with no crowd."

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The tournament had been set down for October 28-30.

When the launch was held earlier in the year it was promised the best bowlers from around the country and overseas would take part.

All 42 entry spots were snapped up quickly as anticipation began for something never seen before in anywhere in the world.

The hope now is that can happen in 2022.

"We're looking forward to next year now," Brown added.

"It's definitely going ahead next year."

A date for next year's tournament is yet to be confirmed but there's hope it can be locked in sometime in the coming weeks to give interested teams plenty of time to plan for a trip to Dubbo.

It would also give fans of the sport time to plan, as Brown said there had been huge interest in the planned 2021 event.

"There was a few from the Central Coast who had booked in the come out for the weekend and watch the bowls. They weren't going to be playing."

Brown was keen to thank major sponsor BCiB Insurance Brokers for its support and understanding during recent times while the same went for fellow sponsors David Payne Constructions, NAB, and Club Dubbo.

For now, Brown and those at Club Dubbo remain waiting for restrictions to ease in the region so players can return to the greens.

"I've sent a few messages out to some of our bowlers and there's a few missing it," he said.

"Especially that older generation. They like their social bowls during the week and that';s their outing to come out and mix it with the other guys.

"We just don't know what it will be like when we come back. There will still be restrictions."

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